The International Space Station is replacing its printer after 17 years in service.

Back in 2001, a couple of Epson 800 Inkjet printers were sent to the ISS. These printers have been used to print, on average, 1000 pages a month for the last 17 years. The printers are beginning to show their age and have reportedly been problematic for the last five or six years.

HP, in conjunction with the ISS and NASA, have work-shopped, tested and developed a zero-gravity capable printer, with the ability to print no matter the orientation of the device itself. HP are looking to continue to outfit the ISS with printers for the next 10 years.

For the record, 10 years is an incredible amount of time for any printer to continue functioning without needing major repair. You update your computer, tablet, and smartphone every few years to keep up with new technology, so why should your printer be any different? We'd recommend doing some research every 3-5 years to consider whether your printer is still able to tackle your workload and meet your needs – it’s possible your print needs have evolved, and you may just need a new printer that can keep up. This is something a good managed IT department should already be on top of.